Swab

For decades, Berlin has been celebrated as a place of sexual liberation, particularly within LGBTQ+ communities. Central to this narrative are the city's clubs, parties, and also darkrooms— booths enabling (often anonymous) sexual encounters in public spaces. With the arrival of the Covid pandemic, these spaces became inaccessible, giving rise to new spatial forms, such as testing and vaccination centers, which often repurposed existing venues like closed-down clubs and bars. The Covid and darkroom booths share an unexpected aura of mysticism and promiscuity. The book compares these spaces using photos and texts.

Texts by: Nils Philipp Dommert, Karl-Josef Pazzini, Jens Franke

Published in 2024 ┊ 60 pages ┊ Paperback ┊ Language: English